Adjustable door and gate latch



J. FELKNER ADJUSTABLE DOOR AND GATE LATCH Nov. 17,1925 1,561,642

Filed W 4 2 Sheets-Sheet l I /m m a -w m-- 5 1 C I 6 .L /0 I I W 1 11 v l 1 [r J 4 -1 i WL Ll/7 g d /0 Z 5' 4 A? w 1 /Z swan 5oz Nsv. 17 1925. 1,561,642

J. FELKNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May '7, 1924 Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

JAMES mmmnn, or cnnrnnvlmn. IOWA.

ADJUSTABLE DOOR AND GATE LATCH.

Application filed May 7,

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JAMES FELKNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Center-ville, the county of Appanoose and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Door and Gate Latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in adjustable door or gate latches, and consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim. I

In the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and. are therefore not drawn to scale Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gate, illustrating the application of my invention, the latch shown in inoperative or retracted position.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the latch in projected or locking position.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section, taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure- 4 is a vertical transverse section, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a. vertical transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings for a more particular description of my invention, and. in which drawings like parts are designated by like reference characters: throughout the several views, A designates the gate which is hinged at one edge, as at B to its supporting frame C, and D represents my improved latch which is carried by the free edge of the gate.

Specifically, my latch. comprises a flat elongated metal bearing strip 1, which is bolted at one end, as at 2, to the outer face of the gate adjacent to the free edge thereof, and projects somewhat beyond the latter and engages or bears against the supporting frame when the gate is closed. A flat latch bar 4 also in the form of a. fiat elongated strip, is slidably mounted for endwise movement on the outer face of the metal strip 1. The latch bar is provided throughout the greater portion of its length with a central longitudinal slot 5, terminating at its outer end in a circular eye or opening 6, a bolt 7 extends through the supporting frame from the inner face thereof, adjacent the free edge of the gate. When the latch bar 4 1924. Serial No. 711,637.

is in retracted or inoperative posit-ion, the:

head 9 of this bolt passes tlu' ough theeye of the opening 6 thereof and when the latch bar is in projected or operative position, the shank 8 extends through the slot Under the former conditions, it will be readily understood that the gate may be freely swung open while under the latter conditlons, the gate will be securely locked against any swinging movement by reason of the head 9 of the bolt 7 engaging the outer face or wall of the latch bar.

The latch bar is held in operative position and guided in its movement by the flat elongated keeper plate 10, mounted on the outer face of the formerand secured to the metal bearing strip 1 by a pair of transverse longitudinally spaced rivets 11, extending through the slot 5. The keeper plate is provided at its inner end with an inwardly extending right angularly disposed portion 12, while the inner end of the latch bar is also provided with an inwardly eX- tending right-angularly bent portion 13 terminating in a. handle portion 14 to facilitate the movement of the latch bar from the inside of the gate. A bolt 15 extends through a horizontal slot 16 formed in the gate adj acent the free edge thereof and also through a longitudinal registering slot 17 formed in the inner end of the bearing strip 1. The inner threaded end of this bolt screws in the outer end of the latch bar whose move ment is limited in either direction by the bolt shank engaging the end Walls of the slot 17.

Among the many advantages derived through the use of my invention, some of the more important may be briefly enumerated as follows :First, the latch cannot be easily rubbed open by stock. Second, the latch will not bind or tighten when the gate sags. Third, the gate may be opened from either side or the bolt 15 removed to permit opening of the gate from only one side. In this connection, it is pointed out that when the bolt is in use, the head 18 thereof, constitutes a handle to facilitate the actuation of the latch from the outside. Fourth, the latch may be used on all gates and doors on one or both sides, as desired. Fifth, it can be used on sliding as well as swinging gates or doors.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it is thought that the construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be readily under stood Without requiring va more extended explanation.

Having described my invention, What I, claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A latch of the character specified, comprisc ing a bearing strip secured to one edge of the door and extending over the supporting frame, a bolt extending through the supporing frame and the free end of said bearing strip, a latch bar slidably mounted for endwise movement on the bearing strip, said latch bar having a longitudinal slot to snug- 1y receive the shank of the bolt when in lockby the latch bar and extending through and beyond the door or gate for actuating said latch bar from the opposite side, the bearing strip provided With a longitudinal slot to receive the shank of the bolt and whereby movement of the latch bar is limited in either direction. 7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. JAMES FELKNER. I 

